All the Great Ones

By: Mckeel Hagerty

As our Summer issue arrives, most of the country will be enjoying what is actually late spring. Ordinarily, I’d be dreaming about getting my cars out and driving them, but having lost my father days before this issue went to the printer, I’m thinking about the man who — with my mother — started Hagerty, and from whom I learned to love cars as we worked on them and drove them together. When you read the last-page story about Frank Hagerty, you’ll see why all of the Hagertys are so incredibly passionate about collector cars and boats.

When longtime contributor John L. Stein told us that his friend, Dean Torrence, of surf-rock duo Jan & Dean, had never driven a woodie, we were shocked. Both Dean and woodies were icons of the California surf culture in the early 1960s, so we arranged some woodie seat time on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Another early ’60s icon, the Pontiac GTO, celebrates its half century this year, and historian and muscle car enthusiast Colin Comer reminds us why 2014 is about more than just the Mustang.

For people of a certain era (read: Gen Xers), select Japanese cars have come of age. The Datsun 240Z, for example, made a giant impact on the sports car world when it appeared in late 1969. Managing Editor Stefan Lombard takes a look at the Z and two cars it spawned.

Meanwhile, Executive Editor Jonathan A. Stein couldn't resist an invitation to Alabama to visit the archaeological remains of Dunn Chevrolet. What he found was a trove of automotive treasures any car guy can appreciate.

Finally, we are thrilled to welcome our newest columnist, the legendary racer and writer Denise McCluggage. Moving forward, she’ll share her recollections of racing’s golden age and those who made it shine. She’s off and running in this issue with the Le Mans start.